drummereef's 180g in-wall build

[drummereef]

Just for reference, the graphs were pulled from my Apex Controller. I accessed the graphs from my PC through Apex server, then I did a Print Screen from my computer and cropped the image to upload to Photobucket. Maybe there's an easier way but I might start showing some more graphs and stats if you guys are interested? Didn't even know it was possible to do that until I tried it... :lol:

 

[tegee]

Yea......keep 'um coming. It is great, real data, where we can gain knowledge into what our systems are really doing. I am hopeful Santa will be nice to me this holiday season and I can spring for an Apex controller.

Good work..........and good luck with you algae issues, hopefully you can move on soon!

 

[Taqpol]

I LOVE the graphing feature of my APEX! I automatically dose two part with peristaltic pumps and when I add the alk solution at midnight, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 I can watch the pH rise 0.01-0.02 points. It really lets you see temperature fluctuations as well as the power usage when your heaters have to kick on!

 

[drummereef]

Your wish is my command. Here's the graphs of Temp, pH, and Amps from both EB8s. The graphs show the last week of data.


pH

Temp

Amp 1 - Circulation Pumps, Heaters, and Top Off.

Amp 2 - Lighting and Return Pump

 

[DIYnitemare]

That rocks, I can't do that with my RKL

 

[platax88]

Hi Brett, are you concerned about your temp fluctuations? My apex keeps mine within .5 of a degree using fans pointed in the sump for evap cooling.

 

[dancewithethan]

Hi Brett

Looking back on your setup, I noticed that you don't use filter socks. What's your thought on them? thx

Ethan

 

[psteeleb]

Hi Brett

Looking back on your setup, I noticed that you don't use filter socks. What's your thought on them? thx

Ethan

I'll chime in here but Brett needs to speak for him self if he thinks different

Filter socks are a PITA, I ran them for a few months but constant cleaning is a problem - I needed them more for removing bubbles then detritus. My sump already did a good job capturing detritus so it's something to consider - make sure you have a low flow area for the detritus to settle out and just clean it up as needed

in my current setup I will actually pull water out of my detritus traps (weirs) as part of my water change routine

as for bubbles - I used corrugated pipe, Brett and his ingenuity came up with the bubble blaster

 

[henrystyle]

+1 on the filter socks being a PITA. Yes they collect a lot of detritus and need to be cleaned often but they also collect good stuff like pods that you want to stay in your system.

 

[drummereef]

That rocks, I can't do that with my RKL

Wow, there's got to be a way to do it DIY. I wonder, can you access any graphs via a web server with the RKL? If so, then you can just use your photo editor (such as Gimp) to pull and edit the graphs for uploading. At least that's what I did.

Hi Brett, are you concerned about your temp fluctuations? My apex keeps mine within .5 of a degree using fans pointed in the sump for evap cooling.

I haven't noticed any detrimental effects from the temp fluctuation. It's over a long period of time and only a couple of degrees (78-81). I probably need to upgrade my heaters to keep the night time temp around 80F if I were to do anything. There's been discussions about daily temp swings and it's noted that the ocean reefs can have quite a large swing from day to night. It's something that I'm looking into but for now I'm just monitoring it.

Hi Brett

Looking back on your setup, I noticed that you don't use filter socks. What's your thought on them? thx

Ethan

I agree with Pete and Henry on this. I've never used them for mechanical filtration on the system just for ease of maintenance. Like Pete said, many people just use them to trap bubbles but if you employ other means they aren't necessary. I do have a filter sock that I use when I want to siphon the sand/rock between water changes. It works when you want to siphon detritus without removing water volume from the system. I'll put a how-to "update" on that topic soon.

 

[cromedogg33]

Brett,

Just curious if you don't mind sharing the info. My build is almost identical with yours as far as equipment (few changes). Have you calculated how much electricity you are using and how much your monthly charges went up?

I keep hearing horror stories of 160$+ a month with people running just 1 or 2 400w MH's.

I'll be running the same 3x 250w MH's along with supplemental VHO's.

If you don't mind sharing please do.

 

[110galreef]

Brett,

Just curious if you don't mind sharing the info. My build is almost identical with yours as far as equipment (few changes). Have you calculated how much electricity you are using and how much your monthly charges went up?

I keep hearing horror stories of 160$+ a month with people running just 1 or 2 400w MH's.

I'll be running the same 3x 250w MH's along with supplemental VHO's.

If you don't mind sharing please do.

lets say you have 3 250w MH & 2 140w VHO's running 10hrs/day.

Thats equates to 1030w for 10hrs x 30 days in a month...
1030w x 300hrs= 309,000w
309,000/1000 = 309.0kwH.
assume an avg of .11c/ kwH....
.11c x 309= $33.99

for continous run stuff substiture the 300hrs above w/ 720 (30days x 24hrs)

Your lights alone are costing you about $33.99 a month to run.

you can add up all you other things like pumps, skimmer etc and do the same. I am right now building a 250 in wall and going efffecient and at about 600w of continuous draw, plus planning ~360w of LED light draw!
CLS & Vortech's (over 50x flow too!), reactor & skimmer feed pumps, return pump, skimmer, OM, heaters, controller & doser.

This is why I am going effecient. Really when buying new, the startup cost for effecient equipment isn't to much more than no effecient stuff. Minus LED's! :eek2: And the monthly savings can really add up!

Total monthly cost for me is about $58-$60/mo

 

[drummereef]

Brett,

Just curious if you don't mind sharing the info. My build is almost identical with yours as far as equipment (few changes). Have you calculated how much electricity you are using and how much your monthly charges went up?

I keep hearing horror stories of 160$+ a month with people running just 1 or 2 400w MH's.

I'll be running the same 3x 250w MH's along with supplemental VHO's.

If you don't mind sharing please do.

110g has some good estimates above. It depends on what electricity runs in your area as well as if they have seasonal breaks on kilowatts used as well. In my area, cost of electricity goes down over the winter months which helps out a little. I'm estimating electrical costs to be around $40 per month for my system. The lights obviously being the largest draw of kw's. I'm on a budget billing plan that is re-calculated quarterly so the impact is minimal for me throughout the year. I think the stories you hear about major electrical bills are in areas of the country where electric is outrageous like Ca. Although, Nanook might have something else to say about that. Best thing you can do is buy a Kill-A-Watt meter to see what the actual draw is, or for me I monitor Amps through my Apex Controller.

 

[110galreef]

chromedoogg.....ur area idaho has an avg cost of about 8.6c/kwH. That is pretty low! U can call your utility company or check your bill for exact cost. CA on the other hand is about 15.5

How about Alaska...~.17, NY...~.19,............or Hawaii ~.28/kwH:eek1::eek1::crazy1:

 

[cromedogg33]

Brett,

Maybe I had missed it but what is your lighting schedule? I'm sure I could find out by look at your PH on your graphs

I'll be running the old galaxy m80 ballasts with radiums, so I'm assuming my ballasts are going to pull more towards the 300w rather than 250w. I have the reeflo dart as well and 2 mp40's. Skimmer is a PCI PS-3000 at the moment but looking into a new more defficient Deltec's.

Your tank being in your basement do you notice your heaters kicking on more or do the lights/pumps keep it heated failry well?

 

[nuclearheli]

Have you considered a CO2 scrubber on the skimmer? It's amazing what you have done.

2" PVC pipe, cap on one end, 2 feet in length, hose barb on the capped end, fill with SodaLime, AirGas 5Gallons about $150. You can keep the in-laws around longer. That might be a bad thing.

 

[Nanook]

I heard my name

I average 5000-6000 KWH in the summer months at $.10 cents/kilowatt hour.

 

[Nanook]

I heard my name

I average 5000-6000 KWH in the summer months at $.10 cents/kilowatt hour.

 

[drummereef]

Brett,

Maybe I had missed it but what is your lighting schedule? I'm sure I could find out by look at your PH on your graphs

Your tank being in your basement do you notice your heaters kicking on more or do the lights/pumps keep it heated failry well?

Hey crome... My lights are on a total of 7 hours but overlap for a dusk/dawn effect so in reality no one light is on more than 6 hours at this point.

Yes, my tank definitely needs more heat then cooling since it's in the basement. Actually I haven't had the need to employ any kind of cooling at this point. The heaters run intermittently throughout the night and usually stay off during the light cycle.

Have you considered a CO2 scrubber on the skimmer? It's amazing what you have done.

Interesting. I might just keep the windows open when they come over again.

I heard my name

:lol: :wave:

 

[Vlado4x4]

Have you had any mayor changes with the N/P reducing pellets ?
Readings cero ? Would you recomend it ?